It may seem I am driving my hubby crazy. Well, maybe crazier, depending on one's opinion.

Each meal I've been cooking, I have tried to estimate what it cost to fix it. I'm not counting the power for the stove or how much refrigeration, but the cost of the ingredients.

Sunday after church I fixed eggs, sausage, potatoes, toast. Coffee for me, and iced tea for him. I figure at the very most the meal cost $6 when you add in the oil and the butter. A similar meal at a restaurant would have probably cost $17 or more. I realize they have overhead and wages to pay. But, I figure that is $11 we saved by eating at home. All in all, the meal took less than 15 minutes to cook.

Supper the other night was a little pricier...we had sloppy chicks (sloppy joes made with ground chicken), chips, fruit, and iced tea. I estimated it cost between $7 to $8 total. And we had leftovers! Enough for lunch the next day so I figure that lunch if we figured in the buns and the chips cost less than $3.

Tonight's supper was a little more expensive than yesterday's lunch -- we had spaghetti (bought on sale), ground turkey, homemade marinara sauce, biscuits (homemade with homegrown herbs), a salad (homegrown lettuce), cottage cheese, and fruit. I think our meal cost around $8. And, we have enough leftover of the spaghetti and biscuits for a lunch.

Sometimes I feel like I spend a ton of money at the store, but then I realize a lot of times, I'm buying stuff to stock the pantry. I try to get pasta on sale and I have been putting it on glass sealed containers or putting it in the freezer. We hit two stores last weekend and in total we spent less than $90. Only one meal we've had didn't include meat that we bought the on this weekend trip.

DH has a very small area for a garden -- our backyard is almost all shade -- so he had herbs in pots and he has planted bell pepper plants among his other fauna in the yard. He has 3 tomato plants, lettuce, radishes, and basil planted in the small garden like area. Someone asked him why he was doing this and he said because it helps me out when I cook and he enjoys eating like a king!

A gal I know was kidding me about the cooking -- she says it is too hard to cook at home and eating out isn't that expensive. I wonder if she could eat as cheaply as we do...we certainly aren't going hungry and I figure a little time in the kitchen means money saved for other things.

Another person we know said brewing tea for iced tea took too much work. During the winter I get the electric kettle out and make iced tea in glass pitchers using tea bags. I let it cool down before I put it in the fridge. This summer I've made "sun tea" as well as brewed it. Somehow putting a few tea bags in some water doesn't seem that hard and I know what is going into the tea...no artificial sweeteners.

One friend has complained how short of money he is...they eat out every single day...sometimes twice. I'm not against eating out -- it is a nice treat -- but when I look at how much it costs, cooking seems a bit more reasonable.

Something I have been reading up on is saving money reusing things. I wondered about those plastic tags that come on bread wrappers and produce bags. I ran across this site:

http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving.com/2010/06/10-re-uses-for-those-little-bread-tags.html

I wonder if they really hold th socks together. It is worth a try, anyway.

I also noticed using one of the bags that produce come in to make a scrubber by putting a sponge inside.

We hit Aldi today and bought lemons and I have both a plastic tag and bag.

I just hate throwing stuff away that can be used from something.

Most of my friends have phones that do about everything. Until about 3 months ago, my phone was pretty ratty looking and I had to charge it about every night. It wasn't because it was one of those phones with everything, the phone was just about done for. I looked into battery replacement and concluded it was cheaper to get a new phone.

Have you been phone shopping lately? All the different things and how disappointed the sales person was when I said my cell was for making and receiving phone calls. Period. Tried to sell me a memory card for photos and this and that. I need this for a data plan. He wasn't a happy camper when I said I don't need a fancy plan...I don't text, don't send photos, and didn't plan on accessing the 'net.

Many of my friends were shocked. No texting? Really?

I explained that our phone plan is bare bones and I wasn't going to get a more expensive plan to text. DH wouldn't text nor would my brother so I cannot see the extra expense. Apparently my friends think I am nothing short of weird.


Being pragmatic, I can't see spending more for something that I am not interested in using. It's just one more expense and I would prefer to not spend money that way.

So, no smart phone for me...guess my phone is kind of dumb and I use it as a phone...make and receive calls...kind of unheard of, isn't it?

We had training today for Common Core reading. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is national standards for reading that most of the U.S. has adopted. Teachers normally do not get more than 30 minutes for lunch, so on training days, we often are allowed an hour.

I packed my lunch this morning -- a few leftovers and some fruit. My partner did the same. We were the only two left in the room as the mass exodus left to go purchase lunch.

I looked around when they came back. Many have complained how their money just doesn't go as far as it did or they have huge expenses...yet they thought nothing of going out for lunch.

When they came this morning, many brought their breakfast they had picked up or soda or coffee purchased. My old checkered Thermos almost seems out of place. One person was telling me what a deal it was for the soda they bought this morning on the way as I drank my home brewed coffee and then my Thermos of water after lunch.

It's a treat to go out -- I realize that, but tomorrow when we return, I bet many will treat themselves again to a hurried lunch and a thinner pocketbook.

I hit the library again and saw a cookbook with cooking with olive oil. It is a type of flatbread and I think one could serve it in place of cornbread. Other than the carbs, it appears to be pretty healthy:

Oatmeal honey bread



1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup honey

1 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil



Preheat oven to 400. Coat a 9 inch round or square baking pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients. Make a well in the center. In a separate bowl add the wet and whick. Pour the wet ingredients into the well and stir just until moistened.

Transfer batter to the prepared baking pan.



Bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Can be served warm or cooled entirely.


We will be eating it with a few meals this week...fairly economical as far as bread goes too.

Friday night we watched the program on the new HGVT Green House. We enjoy seeing the new products out there and how people are trying to help the planet.

I had to chuckle when they kept acting so very self-righteous about reusing furniture and materials and shopping and flea markets and antique shops. They acted almost like it was their very own original idea!

Most folks who have to watch their pennies and even those who don't, but want to, reuse and repurpose things. When I look at my kitchen, so much of the stuff in it was bought used. Or, I inherited it from my grandmother.

We often go to antique shops. I not only like the idea of saving a little money, but the idea of buying something that was probably made in America so many years ago. I'm a little tired of all the cheaply made stuff from overseas.

It was just interesting how the commentators were singing the praises of repurposing things and how glorious it was like it was their very original idea. I think most of us reuse and repurpose if at all possible.

There's a little email making the rounds about an older lady going to the store and the cashier says something about your generation not understanding about going green because she hadn't brought her own bags. It was then pointed out how people used to buy soda in glass bottles and return them to be reused. I was thinking about all the canning that used to go on and people used and reused those canning jars for years!

I know HGTV has to sensationalize to keep the viewer interested, but some of us have been "green" in a lot of areas far longer than the network has been around.

I need to go and heat up the sloppy joes in my second hand pot and serve on my second hand plates. Just thought I'd give a few of my thoughts when it came to being green.

We had ham for supper. We originally had ham for Easter dinner. Then again for supper Sunday night. I had some for lunch on Monday as well as ham and eggs Monday. We ate it again tonight. Hubby had some for lunch too this week. I think we got our money's worth out of that $15 ham. Three meals Sunday noon; three meals Sunday supper. (We had a guest Sunday and then sent her home with some for her supper.) Supper Monday, lunch Monday, DH's lunch Tuesday, and then tonight...let's see 12 individual servings on one ham! I can honestly say I was glad to see the end of it for now, but I feel like we did pretty well...and it was economical.

Our weather has been weird! Living in the Midwest we didn't really have much of a winter...unseasonably warm! Then, the past few weeks it has been in the 70s and 80s and flowers are popping out, trees are blooming, grass is growing...DH has mowed twice already!

Normally one doesn't think about a hearty soup in this kind of weather, but fortunately DH likes soup year round. I had a meeting after school last night and wanted to get something fixed that we could have ready when I got home. I tried this new soup recipe and hubby took one bite and informed me it was a keeper!

Hearty Tomato Pasta Soup

1 lb bulk Italian sausage
6 cups beef broth
1 can stewed tomatoes (28 oz)
1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
2 cups sliced zucchini
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped in small pieces
3/4 cup of pasta of your choice

I browned the sausage with the chopped onion. I sauted the vegetables in extra virgin olive oil. I then added the sausage to the vegetables then everything else and let it simmer for about an hour and a half. I added the pasta the last half hour and it cooked. It was whole wheat pasta so I figured I could add it that early. I think you could wait and add the other pasta later. I refrigerated it over night and heated it up when we got home. With crackers it was a very, very heart meal!

By fixing it ahead, it meant we weren't tempted to go out and there is enough left over for lunch!

OK, didn't mean to be sexist, but if I added "and guy's" it would make the title kind of cumbersome. Not trying to hurt any one's feelings.

I use mine quite often. Last night I put a whole chicken with some herbs and vegetables and water...woke up to a house smelling wonderful. It wasn't a huge chicken, but there is enough meat for two casseroles and chicken salad, and I froze some of the extra broth.

I've made vegetable soup in the past two weeks, and I tried a new pork chop and potato recipe last week.

I have 4 different ones, all different sizes. I just find myself blessed to have this wonderful piece of kitchen appliance world.

I believe by using a slow cooker, I've saved money. I use a lot of casseroles and by cooking chicken ahead instead of buying a rotissere chicken I've saved money. Plus, I control what goes on and in the cooker. I keep broth frozen and that's handy for many meals tool. Healthier and cheaper than buying stuff from the store.

I get excited when I see recipes for the slow cooker that I think I'd like to try.

Don't tell anyone, but I gave a little hug to the cooker when I put it away today after washing it.

Last night's supper totally blew the budget!

Actually, it wasn't totally unplanned. We were at the meat market and the steaks looked so good. So, we bought two so I could grill them. I realize if we had gone out to eat, the cost would have probably been triple. Yet, I sort of felt naughty.

I have been on spring break and we have had th opportunity to get put and about. We went antiquing on Monday. I put beef and barley vegetable soup on the slow cooker so we would have supper waiting for us when we got home. On Wednesday we drove to Iowa to see the American Pickers' Antique Archeology as well as look at antique shops and when we got home, I heated up the leftover soup and used the last of the meatloaf we had Saturday for sandwiches.

I usually try to figure out what a meal costs to see if we saved money. The steaks weren't exactly cheap. But, they were good and a treat.

Tonight it is back to common food..sloppy Toms -- like sloppy joes made with ground turkey breast. One pound with onion, bell pepper, mushrooms makes two meals. Guess that will help the budget!

It's been an interesting month or so. Each weekend after the grocery shopping and menu planning, I spend a few hours cooking things that I can reheat or bake or whatever so there is something waiting in the fridge when I get home. Therefore, I have no excuse to not cook and eat out.

I try to hit sales and either stock up on stuff or buy what is on special many times so our meals are reasonable.

Some of the folks I work with ask me what I've fixed or what I'm planning. A few times previously this year I've shared some of the stuff I've made with my coworker. She and her hubby seemed to appreciate it.

Well, she started looking at the grocery ads, planning her list, and cooking on the weekend. She told me today that she thinks they have really saved money by planning their menu as well as cooking things ahead of time.

A personal benefit is we have been exchanging casseroles the past few weeks. So, we not only are getting to try different recipes, we have a bigger assortment of foods available.

I think that is saving money for both of us besides letting us try new things.

I have been going through my cookbooks and found a recipe for the slow cooker. I am trying to use things up in the pantry before they are past their date, as well as use what I have in the freezer. At our recent meat shop run, they had beef stew meat on sale, so I bought some thinking I could always either make stew or use it to make another dish. Then I found this recipe:

Beef and Barley Vegetable Soup

1 pound stew meat -- trim all fat
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2/3 cup of barley
2 cans of diced tomatoes (with garlic if possible -- if no garlic, mince a couple of cloves)
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 cups beef broth

Put all in a slow cooker and cook 8-9 hours on low. I have it ready for tomorrow and dh walked by and said that I was mean.

Mean? I asked.

Yep, he replied. He said every time I put something in the slow cooker when I'm away are work, I torture him because he has to smell it when he's home.

I suggested I could possibly not make things and he said that perhaps torture was too strong a word, but it does make him very hungry by the afternoon. I guess the man likes pain!

Quiche is on the menu tonight. I have an easy recipe and feel that because it easy as well as economical, it makes for a good meal.

Recipe:

1 pie crust (homemade or store bought)

3 eggs
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup shredded cheese
other optional items: spinach, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, etc.

I whip the eggs, half and half and cheese together and put it in the crust. I then add the other things -- usually what is on hand. Tonight is chopped green onions and cherry tomatoes. I put strips of foil over around the edge of the pie crust so it doesn't brown too much, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until solid.

I'm have a salad with this and this makes a fairly nutritious meal. I was telling a gal I work with about the recipe and she mentioned that using eggs is a reasonable meal. On Saturday we were talking to another gal and she brought up that you can't eat much more cheaply than having a few eggs.

Hubby loves eggs so he's a happy boy. He doesn't subscribe to the theory that real men don't eat quiche!

We went to the library and on the new arrival shelf was a book about being debt free by Gail Vaz-Oxley. One chapter talked about how our friends influence the way we spend.

I would say to a certain extent that could be true. I think it also can be said that some of us no longer bow to peer pressure. I would think that many folks on the SA site have chosen a different route.

Years ago it was tough when my friends in high school, most who had parents who had more money than mine, would tell me about this and that their parents bought them. Or the trips they were going on. I couldn't keep up with the Joneses so to speak then, and I choose not to now.

Yesterday we had a teacher inservice day and although we had an hour for lunch (unheard of for teachers), part of that time was also travel time because we came from different schools in the morning, to a larger school in the afternoon to all meet together. I packed saltines, peanut butter, apple, and a Thermos of water. Most of the folks who had to travel and set up stopped and bought sandwiches and soda.

It was interesting because one person watched me slather the peanut butter on the saltines and then said that she was jealous of my lunch...it seemed that I was getting an intrinsic joy of putting the peanut butter on the cracker in such a way.

I thought about it for a moment and realized she was right. I like saltines and peanut butter. I remember in college when my snacks were that and when I ran out of peanut butter (and money), it was just saltines. But, I also thought this little exercise gave me some control - not only of my spending and eating, but I "controlled" how I would spread the peanut butter.

Pretty weird for such a simple lunch!

Someone asked me why I brought my lunch and I just said I was trying to save money and the conversation then went to how overpriced "fast food" sandwiches were.

I don't ever think I'll be the one giving peer pressure to the spenders, but for one brief moment, I was the one they were jealous of with my simple lunch!

Bet you are wondering what "BIM SIM" represents...

A little background... DH and I both have some arthritis. As a result, it often can be painful to do things. But, most doctors and apparently medicine advertisers agree that one shouldn't stop doing things because you have arthritis. One commercial says, "a body in motion stays in motion" so I decided we needed to have a saying or slogan to remind each other. So, I thought BIM SIM (body in motion stays in motion)was something we could say to keep each other going.

My dad has been gone 14 years. The last few years of his life he was bedridden. He had arthritis and although his doctor told him to keep moving and walking, he said it hurt too much. I'm sure it was painful. On the rare occasions I did get him out and moving, he would comment the next day he felt like he could move better. But, it didn't last. It is a sad saga...he wound up with bedsores because he wouldn't get up and walk, but sat all the time. His bedsores became so bad the doctor gave him antibiotics, but unfortunately they were too strong and he became dehydrated and very ill. He was hospitalized and was making recovery as the hospital put him through physical therapy. However, he chose to quit going and as a result, he got the point he couldn't walk. It was a vicious circle in a way. He had also had a lot of mini strokes so I don't think he was really able to think through things at this point, so his judgment wasn't the best.

That being said, I don't want to have the same problems, so the reminder of getting up and moving is always good. I guess I could say it could save me money if I take care of myself. BIM SIM

I'm just a little bit impressed that I actually fixed a supper and did not make too much. Granted, it isn't earth shattering, but I hate to waste food. Some of my lunches have been pretty diverse because I have a little of this and a little of that because I don't like to throw stuff away.

I fixed beef short ribs, brown rice, salad, homemade rye bread, and a fruit salad. The fruit and the garden salad were easy -- just portion out what we need. But things like rice and pasta usually drive me crazy because it is either feast or famine -- I either make too much or too little. Tonight, I can call it a Goldilocks portion -- it was just right!

So, I would say I saved money by not wasting food. We had sufficient to suffice and it was very, very nice!

A few years ago, there was a commercial where the question asked, "It is soup, yet?" as someone talked about making soup and how hard it is to wait. I think it was for a canned soup and how one can get homemade taste with the convenience of opening a can and heating it.

I have been trying to stay away from canned soups as much as possible, but want to make things that are both nutritious, economical, and something we'll eat. I ran across this recipe is a magazine, but changed it because I didn't care for the original.

Sweet Potato Soup

2 onions, chopped
2 medium carrots, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, and cut into chunks
1 T grated fresh ginger
1 T Turmeric
1/2 cinnamon stick
2 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/4 c cream

In a 5 to 6 slow cooker, combine the onions, carrots, ginger Tumeric, cinnamon stick, salt, pepper, broth and water. Cook covered 7 or 8 hours. Puree the soup in a blender and add the cream.

I actually halved the recipe because I didn't have that many sweet potatoes and I put it in a smaller slow cooker, but it was yummy. I like the fact I could use things I had on hand and the ingredients weren't so exotic (read expensive). It made a good lunch today.

At my schools, there's a company that sells books and usually it has a couple of cookbooks. One gal said she loved cookbooks, but anymore, she doesn't buy them because she either gets people to share recipes or goes to allrecipes.com. She said her cookbooks are collecting dust on the shelf.

That lead to a discussion that is appears that many of the cookbooks have recipes that most of us aren't going to really use and how sharing recipes and getting them online is probably more economical.

And so feeding the tummy and feeding the wallet, all in one step sounds like a great idea!

I live in Central Illinois and it is a rainy day. First, let me clarify I am not complaining. Given the choice between a ton of snow or freezing rain, plain rain is just fine. We had water restrictions this fall, so I'm sure the rain is a blessing. But, what a dreary day! We have had such a mild winter so far that most of my fresh herbs are still alive outside. I know we do need a hard freeze just to keep down the insect population, but as long as we don't receive all the snow and ice, I'm fine with that.

DH is under the weather so I'm trying to stay quiet while he rests. I did get some things done in the kitchen. I have a loaf of rye bread baking and I'm roasting some vegetables for two different meals this week. I have a turkey breast in the Crockpot and I am fixing fresh green beans as well. I wrote out my menus for this week. I'm' thinking of pulling out the other Crockpot and making some soup for lunches too.

I did go to the grocery store -- the one closest to us -- this morning. We usually run errands and are out and about and we frequent another one where the prices are a little cheaper. But, since I wasn't going too far, I only bought what I absolutely needed and did score some buys on Kleenex. With the store card and I had to buy 10 boxes, but got them for 99 cents each. Both of us have allergies and although dh often uses a hanky, it is nice to have a stash of facial tissue when we need it.

Hope you are having a great Saturday as well.

A couple of the restaurants we like have Facebook pages and often they post their specials for the night. As a joke, I have been posting what I've fixed for supper. I get some interesting comments, usually folks asking to come over!

One gal asked if I ever took a night off. I said I do because I do, but I also responded that I cook things ahead. Tonight we had lasagna. I had planned it because I wanted a filling supper as well as stuff for lunches. I had already bought the lasagna noodles on sale, had a coupon and a sale on the cheese, and hubby found a good deal on ground chicken. I used the tomato sauce I made last summer with our tomatoes, onions and basil, so it wasn't the most expensive meal either.

One couple we sometimes do things with never plan anything ahead. They have called and asked us to go out to eat and I have often had to say that I had already started supper. They act like I'm crazy. DH says they fly by the seat of their pants. I admit we do eat out, but I do cook a lot too. And, I usually plan my weekly menus to use what we have as well as utilize those items on sale. Maybe I'm anal, but it is reassuring to know I have our meals planned and some fixed and ready to heat.

I think planning goes farther than just food. We plan for vacation by saving up and reading up. We save up for most things and then check Consumer Reports to see if it is a good value. I have been trying to put a bit of money away for the past 20+ years for retirement. I can't say I'll be rich, but hopefully I won't live in poverty, either.

Is it safe to assume that if you are on Saving Advice you are a planner too?

Since I am feeling human again, and in dh's terms, "eatified" (I think he made up that word), I'm back to fixing stuff that both sounds good and tastes good. With our weather being a bit wintry, soup sounded good.

I have a Facebook account and a few of the restaurants post what they have for specials. So, as a joke, I have been posting on Facebook what I have been fixing. Last night I had a few friends request my recipe for Italian wedding soup. I originally tried the Barefoot Contessa's soup and it was good, but decided to make some changes and make it my own recipe. This is hubby's favorite way I have made it, so I try to make it this way each time now.

Italian Wedding Soup

Meatballs:

1 lb of ground turkey or ground chicken
½ cup or 2/3 cup of bread crumbs
1 egg
2 teaspoons of Worchestershire sauce
1 teaspoon of Tumeric
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 teaspoons of oregano

Mix together and roll into balls. Bake at 350 degrees until browned, turning once…takes around 30-40 minutes.


For the soup:

1 medium onion, chopped
3 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 medium zucchini, diced
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
3-4 cups of chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 cup of beef broth
1 cup of water
1 half of a package of fresh spinach
1 small can of tomato sauce
1 cup of whole grain pasta
Parmesan cheese (shredded)

Sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and zucchini in the olive oil. Cook until soft. Pour into the broths and the water, and bring to a boil, then turn down and let it simmer. Add the tomato sauce and the pasta. Simmer for an hour or until the broth has cooked down some. Add the spinach and let it cook down. Serve hot and put some Parmesan on top, or refrigerate and heat up and serve with Parmesan. Should serve 3-4.


Hubby ate a lot of it, so the serves 3-4 wasn't true. But, we had enough to have it for lunch today as well. I fixed a salad and homemade biscuits with it.

The biscuits are from Paula Deen, except I've made a few changes:

Biscuits

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1-2 tablespoons mayonaise -- depends on how dry the mix is
1/2 cup of shredded cheese (any you choose makes it different each time)
1-2 teaspoons of spice of your choice -- oregano, basil, etc., whatever you have on hand
1 teaspoon tumeric
1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Mix together until it sort of makes a ball. I spray a muffin tin with baking spray, then spoon them into the muffin tin. Bake at 400 for about 20-25 minutes -- or until tops are starting to brown. It will depend on what kind of tin you use -- if it is a dark one it might not take as long.

I figure over all the supper wasn't all that expensive and we had biscuits left over as well as the soup. It was a hearty meal and with leftovers, I kept up the idea of cooking once and eating twice, hence saving money!

We finished supper a little while ago and that was made with some of the chicken and broth I fixed over the weekend. We had chicken and noodles on a cold, blowy, snowy evening and there was enough leftover for dh's lunch tomorrow.

I had roasted a pan of vegetables over the weekend and used that for chicken and rice during the week, and also added them to the strata we had last night. I fixed extra rice and I have been taking that for lunch with the extra vegetables. I eat the last of that tomorrow for lunch as well.

Today's lunch was the leftover salad fixins from the past few nights. My fridge is starting to look kind of empty and sad. I'm trying to eat up the fruit we bought too so that was part of my lunch as well as part of our supper -- dessert,in fact.

I think I should figure how much I spend for meals because sometimes I beat myself up on how much we spend on groceries. I bet tonight's meal was probably less than $7 total and we have leftovers for a lunch. Last night's meal of strata, sweet potatoes, salad, and toast was probably less than $7, except I did splurge and open up some black olives for the salad to make it a little different.

Fortunately dh likes eating my cooking...and as I tell him if we don't spend the money going out, we have it for other things we really want!

It's the weekend and it means I'm planning the menus for this week.

It actually starts before the weekend. On Thursday I make out a list for Aldi and DH nicely goes on Friday and picks up what we need. I think about what we have this week based on what the inserts show on sale and what I have in the pantry and freezer.

On Saturday we go to the other store we frequent getting the things we didn't get at Aldi. Sometimes we go to a separate meat market. Their prices aren't any higher than the grocery and it is nice I can get stuff wrapped in portions I want. DH doesn't want to go in and ask for a chicken breast, but I have no problem doing it.

Well, my menu is basically planned by then. Last night I roasted some vegetables and cooked some rice. I had put a whole chicken in the Crockpot Friday night and I pulled the meat off and then strained the broth. I froze the extra broth in small containers.

Today, I made a strata out of leftover sausage. I had bought a roll of Bob Evans that was on sale and I had coupon the previous week. I used part of it for Friday's supper when we had quiche. So, I cooked the rest of it and let it cool and then added some of the vegetables to the egg mixture with the sausage.

Egg strata

5 eggs beaten
1/2 cup milk or half and half
4-5 slices of stale or older bread, torn up
1/2 cup of shredded cheese, your choice


optional: meat or vegetables

The strata usually needs to sit overnight in the fridge so the bread soaks up the milk -- it sort of makes a bread pudding out of it.

I bake it for an hour covered at 350. Your baking time can differ based on what kind of dish you have it in. It needs to be baked solid so the knife comes out clean in the middle. If it is a deep dish it might take longer. If it a a shallower dish, it might be shorter. If you want the top to brown, take off the cover during the last 10 minutes.

I often make a strata for a quick economical dish that also uses up things in the fridge.

It's funny, the other night I made a quiche. We both like quiche, but it was also a way to use things up and have a meal at home that is economically. I figured with everything, including the toast we made, juice, coffee and dh's tea, we spent less than $7.

Now that might sound like a lot, but DH is a big eater. So, spending $7 on a meal is pretty reasonable, especially since I don't like to use things with preservatives. Someone asked him why we just didn't go out and he smiled and said, "I'd rather eat at home."

I admit that last week we found some good deals at Walgreens on things we use and there were manufacturer's coupons besides. I spent money to hopefully save money down the road as I added some of these items to my pantry.

Yet, I am still a bit confused with some friends who claim they are saving money as they buy things on sale. One person bragged how they saved money on cereal at this one place, but then said they spent the savings and then some on some other item, but still, they saved money! This friend is the first to complain about being low in cash, yet is so excited about buying things and thinks a buy one, get one free sale is wonderful, even if that item isn't wanted or needed. Sigh.

Another friend has been participating in a program where you can buy stuff half off. What a great savings, right? Except some of these items are things this friend doesn't like or even want, but hey, they got half off! Yet another person who complains about not having enough money. Double sigh.

Maybe I'm too pragmatic. I don't buy something on sale or with a coupon just because it is on sale or I have a coupon just to save money. I figure by not buying it in the first place I'm saving money.

All this sighing is giving me a headache!

Remember the adage, measure twice and cut once? The purpose was to make sure the measurement was correct before cutting something and possibly making a mistake.

Well, I like the idea of cooking once and eating twice or more. Yesterday I fixed a slice of ham. It was a thick slice bought at Aldi. I had made scalloped potatoes and cornbread and green beans to go with our New Year's meal.

Today, my last day of vacation, we had some errands to run, including running dh's vehicle in for a recall. We got home and I suggested we have a rerun of yesterday's lunch. DH was fine with that and we had a hearty meal on a windy, cold day. I still have some ham and potatoes left as well. Part of the ham will be a lunch this week with the leftover potatoes. The rest of the ham will be cut up and I'll make ham and beans for dh. I don't particulary care for ham and beans, but he likes it and apparently I've found a simple recipe to make a lunch size portion of them for him. I have to admit I use a can of navy beans, but I have been lucky and found them on sale.

I cut up the ham in small pieces and saute' it with onion and celery, then I add a little chicken broth. I then drain some of the liquid off the beans, but keep enough so the beans don't get dry. I add a half of a teaspoon of cumin and tumeric and let them simmer for about an hour, adding broth as needed. I put them in a dish he can heat up in the microwave and he's a happy boy.

I really think the idea of cooking once and eating twice saves money. I know I prefer cooking a whole chicken in the Crockpot and although we usually don't eat an intial meal off of it, I do make 2-3 dishes from the chicken and broth, depending on the size of the chicken.

On New Year's Eve we did go out to eat and we had some vegetables we couldn't eat on our plates. I asked to have a box with the skin from my baked potato. We got home and I added a couple of vegetables that were sitting around here with some herbs, and made a very rich vegetable broth. It has been strained and is in the freezer awaiting my next soup adventure.

Tonight we are having chicken and sweet potatoes. The chicken breasts were reasonable at Aldi when we went and I think there are more than two. Two will be used for us tonight, but the others will be made in a casserole with rice and vegetables for another meal this week. I'll just cook them all so I have them.

I did that the other day with sweet potatoes. I baked the 5 small ones we had. We had two for a meal and the other three I used to make a small sweet potato casserole for another meal. Sure saved time.

Well, the kitchen is calling, so I guess I better heed the call. Please share if you have some ideas on cooking once and eating twice.

We celebrated New Year's by having an early dinner. Our favorite restaurant has a loyalty program and we had some money coming, so we splurged and had steaks. Yum!

As we were leaving, an older couple had already gotten into their car. It was an older Crown Victoria. That baby was shined up and looked pristine. Not a speck of rust or dirt. I bet the inside was as clean.

DH said you can tell that an older person owns it because they know how to take care of things.

How sad. But true. How much money can one save by taking care of things? I have some pots that belonged to my grandmother. I am sure they are over 50 years old. She took care of them and I've taken care of them and we have both gotten good use of them.

That being said, how many things are made nowdays that can last? A friend of mine said when she and her hubby went television shopping, they mentioned that their "old" television of over 7 years was going out and the sales clerk said they were lucky to have gotten that much time out of it -- things aren't made to last, but to be replaced.

Our bodies are also examples. If one eats right, exercises, and tries to stay content, usually the body lasts far longer than if one parties, smokes, and is angry all the time. Not always, but usually.

I would say taking care of things can help save money. I know many of the items in my kitchen are old -- Pyrex and Corningware especially because my family or someone else took care of them. They are serving me well.

So, even if the businesses expect me to replace things, I'm going to continue taking care of things to try and get the best use out of it. Hopefully it will pay off for me by saving some money as well as less to throw out.

We were out and about doing some grocery shopping. We were at the meat market and my dh looked down and there was a penny. Of course I picked it up and put it in the furnace fund. I'm not too proud.

We also hit Aldi and found lots of good things for meals for the coming week. I was excited to find blackberries for 99 cents for the package. That's a treat. Although I like to save money, I also splurge on fresh fruits, even some out of season.

Last week a friend was talking about her baking. She said she had been using margarine in her cookies and said she thinks they have changed the formula and wanted to know what I used. She was shocked when she heard me say I use butter. I told her I get a pound of it for under $2 at Aldi here in town and I can choose between salted and unsalted and I'd rather have butter than margarine.

She sort of turned up her nose at first. She said she never thought of Aldi and why would I want to shop there. I said to save money, of course.

Granted, we could afford to buy our groceries at one of the other chains, and we still fill in at the other stores, but if I can get fruits, dairy, and vegetables more reasonable and it's not out of our way, why wouldn't I? After all, it gives us extra money to either save or spend.

Guess some folks still feel the need to pay full price for everything and then mew about it.

I viewed half of the new TLC program, Extreme Cheapskate last night. I caught the part where the guy has no spend weeks throughout the year and he and his wife eat what they have. On the last day he scrounged up change to go buy some meat. The man had over $7 in change after riding his bike here and there to pick up pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. His idea of a good meal? Two goat heads.

Now, I think I like to save money, but I am not brave enough to try boiling and then roasting a goat's head. He said the eye was a delicacy. Ick. Actually double ick on my part. His wife said she would let him enjoy his "meat" and ate whatever else they had.

The next part was a kid who bartered for things. We just saw on the news where a town in Maine is doing a lot of bartering because so few have money. But this guy on the TLC program was almost, in my opinion, greedy.

I imagine some of the stuff on these programs is for the glitz of television, but geeze, to me a no spend day doesn't mean rounding up change and then going to buy something. Perhaps I'm too literal.

As my husband would say, this guy gives cheap a bad name.

Are we the only folks who have problems with buttons? I'm not talking about buttons on the phone or remote, but those fastening devices on clothes.

Last year my husband purchased a very nice coat -- it was on sale, but wasn't a casual coat. It's not super dressing, but a happy medium. He wears it because it is warm and looks a little nicer than the every day coat he has. Now, he bought it near the end of the season last year so he hasn't worn it much. Last night he pointed out that the buttons were already becoming loose.

It seems like most of our clothes with buttons, I'm always having to secure them after a couple of wearings. Are we the only ones?

The saying "a stitch in time saves nine" might mean less sewing, but my stitching means I don't have to search for new buttons for lost ones. Or purchase them. And believe me, if you have to purchase new ones, they are pricey for such little things.

Oh, bother!

My spam folder said it had 5 emails. After last Saturday's money saving offers, I thought I'd peruse it and see what other goodies I can turn down.

The first one is for an electronic cigarette...and I'm so special I'm one of the few who had it offered to me. Well, since I don't smoke, guess I don't need an electronic cigarette to stave off my cravings for nicotene. Saved a chunk of money there, I bet.

The second is about my order was received. What order? I haven't ordered anything. It has a link with a p.o. number. Well, sorry, I didn't bite on this one. I'm not sure what they think I ordered, but I'm not going to click to find out either. I saved money by not ordering in the first place.

Two others have something to do with cars, with one being a humongous sales. Maybe they figure I'll need a bigger car after buying the Viagra or something. Nah, I just hit delete on those. I'm not in the market for a new car so I think my cost savings just went up on that too.

One doesn't have a subject or even a sender. Guess a ghost sent it. Well, it is probably written in invisible font and I'm not opening it up to see what was sent...it might be too scary!

With my email addy, it isn't easy to tell what gender I am, so I guess the spammers are just trying to see if they can hook me with something. They don't call it it phishing for nothing!

That's my chuckle over the stuff in the spam folder...

I open it up every few days just to check and clear it. Well, one company sent me two emails about my preapproval for a credit card...within 30 minutes of each other. The first one was at 5:49 a.m. and the second was after 6 a.m. Sorry, I have no intention of responding that early in the morning for a credit card. See, I saved money right there by not replying and taking them up on that wonderful offer and going out and spending money on the credit card!

There were two identical emails for penis enlargement and the subject line was Christmas is coming! Well, not being male, I don't have a penis so I don't really need to enlarge anything I don't have. I'm not really sure what that has to do with Christmas unless it is a gift you give yourself, that is, if you have the equipment. Fortunately, I can save money here too since I don't need that part of my anatomy enlarged.

In that same vein, there were two emails also with the subject line Christmas is coming and they were for Viagra. Well, again, I don't really need Viagra...see paragraph two if you skipped ahead. I saved money again! I'm getting richer by the second!

The latest email in my spam folder stated it was warning me that someone ran a background check on me and that they looked up my arrest record and I need to click on their url and find out who. Well, my arrest record is pretty short. I had a speeding ticket about 8 years ago. I deserved that ticket, so I'm not grousing about it. But, my record is pretty small -- I live a pretty simple life -- so I think I'll pass on finding out who ran a background check on me. I am pretty sure they will want me to pay for the privilege of finding out who supposedly checked my criminal background. Nah, I think I'll save my money and not purchase that little treat either.

Well, I say it has been a prosperous morning here at the computer. I saved a ton of money by not investing in their schemes. And, I had a chuckle besides!